of the 2006 Great Tile-Dude Escape. No tile guy again today. Funny - my phone has worked every day this week. Yet the tile dude has not called to let me know he is not returning for another day of work.

I will give him a tiny break. He had a baby a couple of weeks ago. Well, his wife did. So, he may be on little sleep. No problem. I had babies in the house at one point myself. BUT I would call someone if I was not going to show up.

Here is some proof of progress. The floor is now pretty much done. Not too many more tiles to set, and then grout. Yeah!

On a side note, what work he has completed looks good. Looking nice and retro and vintage-y. I wanted it to have the spirit of my grandmother's bathroom. And it's getting there. SSSSSlllllllllooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

My boys came home Saturday. Jackson said that he loved flying on the airplane without an adult. He will fly by himself again as long as Payne-o is with him.

They were both gone today - all day. For some reason, they would both rather be in the combine or a tractor than at home with me..... Payne is learning to drive a tractor, but little opportunity for him this summer with the lack of a crop.

Once I uploaded these, I realized how much I love my big Canon. I had my little Canon at the beach - it is 5mp, but yuck! We took some one night of the whole group. Will put a couple of those up after I proof them.

I experienced another turning point as we notch the little marks on the growth chart; this one on the invisible one in my mommy-brain.

I got to read at the beach. 5 books.

Not constantly watching a child. Both the boys are fish, and Jackson's confidence was bolstered with Rheagan around. I only had to occasionally do the head count. It helps that there were 5 other adults around most of the time too!

What did I read?

Just One Look by Harlan Coben - First time I have read him. Excellent mystery. Will have to check out his other stuff. Everyone else in the family seems to have read it but me.

The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw - Quick and easy. He did not include many anecdotes from those raised in the South. I catch glimpses in the stories of what I gleaned from my grandmother about that time. Both my grandfathers served in WWII - one in the Navy and the other in the Army (right? I know he was a pilot) and my parents were both born during the war. Could I survive on gas or shoe rations today? Man, I'm spoiled!

Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado - Not the biggest fan of Lucado - enjoy his message but not his style of writing.

Mapping the Edge by Sarah Dunant - strange book. English woman goes on holiday in Italy and does not return as scheduled. Story is told in three perspectives, one from those left behind at home and two from the woman in Italy. Bizarre. What is truth and what is fiction? Not sure I can recommend it, but would love to discuss with someone who has read it.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd - I loved The Secret Life of Bees. Loved, loved, loved it - The Secret Life Bees, that is. It made me cry, as did this one. The Mermaid Chair is a completely different story though- I loved the ending of it and the ultimate message.

No, we have not fallen of the face of the earth; we are just running all around it.

Payne's baseball season is finally over. At least we are free of baseball for awhile. Until August.

Sprained my ankle over two weeks ago in Leakey; I think my ligaments have decided to take a break for the rest of the summer.

Because my ligaments have decided on an extended holiday, I have not worked out. In.Two.Weeks. Going nuts. Not like I am some super-health-nut-freak-type-of-person, because I most certainly am not. But I love working out. Too bad my body does not reflect that!

Swim Team is over, too. Payne had his regional meet Saturday. Some people are a little serious about their swimming....not us! There were some seriously fast kids. His 100 Free relay placed third, so not too bad there.

Packing for a trip to Florida. We are meeting up with my family, and actually taking Jon along. Usually he is left behind due to harvest.

Speaking the lack of which, we are getting lots done on the house because we are not busy in the field.

New office is painted (Jon did a great job taping and floating, especially if you consider that I have absolutely no texture on the walls and demand that is is perfectly smooth) a lovely celadon green color. Very soothing and calming. Next we do the floor - staining concrete very, very dark.

Tile work in boys' bath is slow.Hope they are back in before Payne starts jr. high.

Boys will not be returning from Florida with us. They will be in Tennessee for a week. Can you say, "Which movie shall we see tonight?"

Here are some pictures. The color in the office does not show up at all; it really is lovely in person.